- Sabina Chebichi made headlines in 1973 when she won a race without running shoes and while wearing a dress
- Chebichi later won a bronze medal at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zeeland
- Chebichi outclassed her competitors despite not having proper attire and gained attention countrywide
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Kenya’s reputation as a hotbed for athletic talent did not just start the other day. The Paul Tergats, Kipchoge Keinos, and Catherine Nderebas of yesteryear paved the way for the current crop of Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, and many others.
One constant hallmark of almost every Kenyan athletic story is the rise from grass to grace. The athletes have to defy great odds to become the superstars they are.
Source: UGC
Who is Sabina Chebichi?
One such star was Sabina Chebichi, who made headlines in 1973 while running barefoot and in a petticoat.
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Chebichi was born in Trans Nzoia into a family of nine children. She attended Milimani Primary School in Kitale. When she was 14, she attended a meet organised by the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (now Athletics Kenya) in Kericho.
Chebichi did not have proper attire for the meet like her competitors, but that did not deter her from putting on a show. Face2Face Africa reports that she ran the women’s 800 meters in 2 minutes 16 seconds and the 1500 meters in 4 minutes 40 seconds.
The ‘petticoat princess’ at the Commonwealth Games
Her bright-green petticoat earned her the name ‘petticoat princess’ and worldwide attention. The secretary of the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association, Feisal Sherman, sent her a running kit and shoes.
A year later, she became the first Kenyan female runner to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games when she won bronze in the 800m at Christchurch in New Zealand and fifth in the 1500m.
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Kenyan athlete helps disabled athlete drink water
TUKO.co.ke has also reported that Jacqueline Nytepi Kiplimo caught the world’s attention in 2010 when she helped a disabled athlete drink water.
Kiplimo was one of the favourites at the Zheng-Kai marathon in China. At around the 10-kilometre mark, she came across a differently-abled athlete.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
